NPR’s new music 03-10-23 brought Manchester Orchestra, The Valley of Vision, to our attention. What a new music Friday it has been; many artists explored and reconsidered, 2nd-chanced, to arrive finally at Manchester Orchestra. We did find ourselves swept up in Miley Cyrus-Flower’s release. Now we settle into Manchester Orchestra and this amazing new The Valley of Vision release. Post Covid a band’s new release is a DIY project as the label’s resources are scarce. Manchester Orchestra gets the nod for pulling out all of the stops. The film shot 180 degrees of virtual reality, takes viewers on a journey through the themes explored in the album. The film was shot in collaboration with the virtual reality production company, The Mill, and it offers a unique way to experience the music. The film was introduced on YouTube live. We have included the video below for your enjoyment. Visually the best experience is likely with a pair of VR glasses. We, for now, enjoy the aural experience and recommend you listen first with a great pair of CR best-rated Bose wireless earbuds, available below. Listen first; the lyric is richly textured, vividly drawn, and likely to resonate with many of our astute fine poetry/prose appreciative readers. Since this artist is new to us, and our collective good music taste is already triggered strongly, we will forego a regurgitation of the publicly available WIKI. After reviewing previous releases, this was our first taste and represented a quieter nonelectric guitar-driven creative output. The first track, the Way, is a good start. Our advice is to press play on the film video and let it run through 26.06 minutes to the end.
Manchester Orchestra — The Way [Live @ SiriusXM]
Manchester Orchestra – The Valley Of Vision (Official Album Film)
THE VALLEY OF VISION GLOBAL ALBUM PREMIERE 03.09.23 ON @YOUTUBE.
7:45 PM EST: @consequencevideo Presents: The Valley Of Vision In-Conversation with Manchester Orchestra
8:00 PM EST: The Valley Of Vision Official Film Premiere
8:30 PM EST: The Making Of The Valley Of Vision with Manchester Orchestra & Director Isaac Deitz (Official YouTube After Party) *YouTube Premium Subscribers only. Sign up for a free trial here:
/ premium
VR headsets are recommended for the optimal experience.
“Capital Karma” by Manchester Orchestra, out now: https://i.manchesterorchestra.com/Cap…
Pre-order & pre-save The Valley Of Vision, out 03.10.23: https://i.manchesterorchestra.com/TVOV
The first thing you notice is that most guitars are gone. These have been replaced with synths and keyboards. It feels like a different project; although Hull has flirted with a more poppy sound in the past, luckily, those killer melodies remain. ‘The Way’ is the standout track on ‘The Valley Of Vision.’ Opening with lethargic beats and a wonky melody, it gracefully builds to one of the most memorable songs Hull has ever written. “Do you wanna find the antidote? Driving with the Holy Ghost. Holy death, the holy smoke. And does it start again? I’ve been drinking from a periscope.
Trying to watch my obstacles, See how fully I’ve been broke, And let me start again….” The chorus takes some rhyming liberties, but we’ll let Hull off as it’s great and has the potential to get lodged in your head all day. The rest of the project follows this blueprint. Wonky synth melodies bedrock the songs while Hull’s introspective lyrics float above them.
Despite the skewed pop vibes, the EP oozes emo sensibilities, which is what made the project so enticing in the first place. Unfortunately, Hull’s vocal delivery is mostly centered, and it would have been great to hear him bellow a few times. Of course, we have the older songs for that, notably ‘Pride’, but it feels like a missed trick not to belt one out over some somber soundtracks. Overall ‘The Valley of Vision’ is a strong release and shows that Andy Hull isn’t running out of ideas after almost 20 years. This is a melancholy, broody, moody, and fun project to get lost in.
Manchester Orchestra – Pride
Music
SONG
Pride (Album Version)
ARTIST
Manchester Orchestra
LICENSES
SME (on behalf of Favorite Gentlemen/Canvasback); BMG Rights Management (US), LLC, UMPG Publishing, CMRRA, PEDL, ARESA, Abramus Digital, Warner Chappell, MINT_BMG, LatinAutorPerf, LatinAutor, and 3 Music Rights Societies
Manchester Orchestra – Pride (Live from Echo Mountain 2021)
This new release comes from NPR New Music Friday, which was released on March 10, 2023.
“Holy arrangement, batman. I have found the next aural fascination. This is how my mind sounds in the process of creation.” My first impulsive sentence after hearing the opening 4 minutes of The Valley of Vision.
Manchester Orchestra originated in the Atlanta suburbs. They are named after the English city of Manchester, a city frequently viewed as being bohemian and also rich in musical history (The Smiths, The Fall, The Buzzcocks, The Stone Roses, Joy Division, Oasis, New Order, Happy Mondays, Magazine, Rick Astley)
John Andrew Hull (born November 7, 1986) is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. He serves as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter of the indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. He also has a side project, Right Away, Great Captain!, and is co-founder of a side project with his friend and folk musician Kevin Devine named Bad Books. Hull is also co-president of Manchester Orchestra’s label, Favorite Gentlemen.
The Valley of Vision is a collection of prayers and meditations that Puritan Christians wrote during the seventeenth century. The book has been a source of inspiration for many Christians over the years, and it is said to offer a deep insight into the spiritual journey of believers. Manchester Orchestra has turned this source material into a powerful musical experience that speaks to people from all walks of life.
The new album is a departure from Manchester Orchestra’s earlier work, which focused on hard-hitting rock and roll. The Valley of Vision is a more introspective and reflective album that explores themes of redemption, faith, and the human experience. The band has been working on this project for over two years, resulting in an awe-inspiring journey through the human soul.
What sets The Valley of Vision apart from other albums is the immersive film that accompanies it. The film, shot in 180 degrees of virtual reality, takes viewers on a journey through the themes explored in the album. The film was shot in collaboration with the virtual reality production company, The Mill, and it offers a unique way to experience the music.
SONG
The Way
ARTIST
Manchester Orchestra
ALBUM
The Way
LICENSES
UMG (on behalf of Loma Vista)
I think I’m losing my mind
Fear became the fentanyl
Hungry like the animal
I’ve been sleeping in
I see you’re losing your light
Cut you into decimals
Drowning out the decibels
Screaming in your head
Do you wanna find the anecdote? (Antidote?)
Driving with the Holy Ghost
Holy death, the holy smoke
And does it start again?
I’ve been drinking from a periscope
Trying to watch my obstacles
See how fully I’ve been broke
[Post-Chorus]
And let me start again
Ooh
Ooh
Let me start again
Ooh
Ooh
I think I’m losing the line
The altar is inaudible
Dense and pathological
Capillary thread
When you run out of time
The soul becomes synodical
The weight is now phenomenal
And deafening again
Are you feeling like an anecdote?
Hovering to the hospital
Huffing fire and holy smoke
Does it start again?
I’ve been lost beyond the telescope
Goddamn diabolical
God forgive the prodigal
You might also like
Rear View
Manchester Orchestra
Quietly
Manchester Orchestra
Lose You Again
Manchester Orchestra
[Post-Chorus]
And let me start again
Ooh
Ooh
Let me start again
Ooh
Ooh
Now I
Have lost
My way
My way
Now I
Have lost
My way
The way
(Now I)
I think I finally found the antidote
(Have lost)
I’ve been lying to Holy Ghost
(My way)
Holy beds that fully broke
(The way)
Now let me start again
(Now I)
I’ve been sinking in the horoscope
(Have lost)
Love is never optional
(My way)
Holy death and holy smoke
(The way)
Let me start again
Ooh
Manchester Orchestra chatted with Ana Lee at Bonnaroo about their latest and greatest single release, “I Know How To Speak.” This particular song has been in the works for awhile and was worth the wait. Watch this interview to hear more about their music and tour from the band.
Manchester Orchestra – The Valley Of Vision (Official Album Film)
THE VALLEY OF VISION GLOBAL ALBUM PREMIERE 03.09.23 ON @YOUTUBE.
7:45 PM EST: @consequencevideo Presents: The Valley Of Vision In-Conversation with Manchester Orchestra
8:00 PM EST: The Valley Of Vision Official Film Premiere
8:30 PM EST: The Making Of The Valley Of Vision with Manchester Orchestra & Director Isaac Deitz (Official YouTube After Party) *YouTube Premium Subscribers only. Sign up for a free trial here:
/ premium
VR headsets are recommended for the optimal experience.
“Capital Karma” by Manchester Orchestra, out now: https://i.manchesterorchestra.com/Cap…
Pre-order & pre-save The Valley Of Vision, out 03.10.23: https://i.manchesterorchestra.com/TVOV
This new release comes from NPR New Music Friday, which was released on March 10, 2023.
“Holy arrangement, batman. I have found the next aural fascination. This is how my mind sounds in the process of creation.” My first impulsive sentence after hearing the opening 4 minutes of The Valley of Vision.
Manchester Orchestra originated in the Atlanta suburbs. They are named after the English city of Manchester, a city frequently viewed as being bohemian and also rich in musical history (The Smiths, The Fall, The Buzzcocks, The Stone Roses, Joy Division, Oasis, New Order, Happy Mondays, Magazine, Rick Astley)
John Andrew Hull (born November 7, 1986) is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. He serves as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter of the indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. He also has a side project, Right Away, Great Captain!, and is co-founder of a side project with his friend and folk musician Kevin Devine named Bad Books. Hull is also co-president of Manchester Orchestra’s label, Favorite Gentlemen.